Bolton Museum is surprisingly great. You imagine that a town like Bolton would have little more…read morethan a big turning steam powered wheel, with locals simply stood around cooing at it. That's because some people have got the wrong idea entirely about this fine town. The truth of the matter is that Bolton Museum has some really wonderful exhibits. One area of expertise surrounds Egyptology. You are advised to go see the stones, pottery and real life mummy. Serious. Elsewhere, there's dinosaur skulls (bloody massive things), a nod to the industrial revolution and stuffed animals. If I remember rightly, there's a snarling fox which could well give you nightmares. And it is all completely free. The art gallery is just as impressive and the exhibitions they've had have been astonishing. In recent years, they've embraced pop-culture with a great look at the '60s as well as focusing on the masters like Da Vinci and Picasso. The aquarium however, is a bit crap.

This is such a great place to go for a free day out. It is perfect for young and old but…read moreparticularly a great place to take the kids on school holidays or at weekends. The museum has different sections in it such as a section for Egyptology. This part is really interesting because it has allsorts of Egyptian artefacts including real mummies and coffins. They usually have some fact sheet type questionnaires that your kids can go find the various information and fill them in which gives them something to do. There are other sections of the museum with exhibits on industrial type things and animal and environmental things. There is even an aquarium at the bottom of the museum which is completely free. There is a good well stocked library with free internet access available. Overall it is a great place to entertain you and your family on a day out for free.

When the Heaton Park funfair was rained off, I took my son to this little known museum and he loved…read moreit. Its in a small tram shed and is devoted to over a century of tram travel in Manchester and displays a load of photos, mechanical equipment and personal artifacts. It charts the history from horse drawn omnibuses to modern day metrolink trams. The staff there were really enthusistic and helpful - bordering on the geekish but it is educational and great fun for my little 'un.

Launched just a few weeks ago as part of the Manchester International Festival, the Biospheric…read moreProject is years in the making, and like nothing you have ever seen before. The Biospheric Project is part urban farm, part research project and part genius. Built (and grown) in a disused mill in a sunny spot on the River Irwell in Salford, the Biospheric Project is a living laboratory investigating new ideas for farming and food production in urban environments. The project has taken over three stories in the disused mill, as well as the roof and surrounding land in a small and radical farming project. Using connected systems like aquaponics, hydroponics and forest farming, the project is combining radical techniques and inventing new technologies to farm food and feed the planet's growing needs. All of the different elements of the 'biosphere' are connected, as they are in nature, and you can see the entire ecosystem from start to finish - from the earthworms creating new soil to the produce being harvested and sold locally in the community. (They even have an indoor/outdoor beehive, and chickens on the roof!) The Project is wonderfully presented, with information boards explaining the different elements and ideas, as well as the researchers themselves who offer exceptional guided tours and explain their projects fluently and passionately. You are watching people's PhD projects unfurl before them, and it is hard not to get excited with them about the fantastic and groundbreaking research they are conducting. The Project is closed to the public for a few weeks whilst the team there take a break after unveiling their work at MIF. But never fear, the Project will be growing and developing over the next ten years, so there will be plenty of opportunities to take a look. Check their website for details of upcoming talks and tours. (There are also lots of activities for schools and groups).

THIS PLACE IS WELL WORTH A VISIT…read more Set on the canal side in an old canal boat shed-(large brick building). It is like stepping back in time when you visit the old chippy and pub. Shops and pawn brokers have been recreated with al th old goods that were on sale many years ago. A bar of soap 4d. They have also recreated a church and school room. Well worth a school trip with activities for pupils. They are even taken back to the Victorian era in the old schol room and put through the 3 Rs by a strict looking teacher. She is great at acting out the roll . Down stairs are the more industrial machinery used locally 100 years or so ago. Theres a smal cafe and sovenier shop that is resonably priced. Best thing is that its free of chrage. A great visit for old and young alike

I love taking my son to this museum. It's all absolutely free and we get to chat about boats, watch…read morethe ducks and swans and see how things were 'a long time ago'. The museum caters really well for children with lots to keep them occupied - it's very easy to spend a wet afternoon playing and learning lots. I would also recommend a coffee in the cafe there. The staff are absolutely amazing and the food evebn better!

Been here three times with my little brother begging to go back and enjoyed it each time myself…read moreA pilgrimage much needed for all hardcore footie fans, as soon as it was brought to the city of football I found myself migrating towards it and after visiting it for the first time I was not disappointed, an amazing experience and very interesting. Told my brother about it and he couldn't wait, and then wanted to go once again a second time! Loving the minigames throughout the building Thoroughly enjoyable for all ages. Also...free entry, how can you complain???

As a football ( soccer ) coach and fan, my wife and I stopped by here to check out some history. It…read morewas located in a nice area surrounded by shopping malls, restaurants, pubs, and entertainment. There weren't too many people in when we visited so we had the opportunity to use the interactive exhibits (most of which were free, you just had to grab the ticket hanging on the lanyard next to the scanners to use). My wife and I had a great time and got a good work out in using the interactive exhibits such as the passing, shooting, and penalty blocker games. Great place to take the kids as they will be napping good after.

This Edwardian building, which houses the Public Library also (entrance round the corner) is simply…read morestunning. And I wouldn't be surprised if many residents of Bury and the surrounding areas had never set foot in here even once. The Art Gallery and Museum has both permanent collections and a changing schedule of exhibitions plus Archives of family histories that people travel considerable distances to consult. It's all free admission of course and they even have a service which advises you on how to look after valuables, paintings and antiques, although they do not provide valuations. Go on Antiques Road Show for that. The Wrigley Collection is very impressive: Turner and Constable amongst 20th century art as well as prints and ceramics showing that you don't necessarily have to travel far to see some greats.

I know that for many people Bury sounds anything but exciting. If you live in a big city there is…read morealways a danger to start believing that all truly great things are located, planted, and happening in your vicinity. Bury is being scorned so often, it is almost hard to imagine that it is also inhabited by people. If you read this and feel for Bury, then you will be pleased to know that there is a lovely art gallery there. Admittedly, it is small. It is located in a quiet street, in an 18th c. building, and when you enter it you will be impressed by the staircase. Once you are on the staircase, however, you should be even more impressed by one of the 19th c. representations of Dante's story of Paolo and Francesca; the painting hangs just above the stairs. Venture further into the collection, and you will find one of Turner's seascapes, a selection of works by local painters, as well as a massive Chinese chimney. How good is that for a local art gallery that lies forgotten somewhere in the north of Greater Manchester? Bury Art Gallery has strong links with the MET, and 2009 has seen the gallery hosting exhibitions by contemporary artists who work to fuse words and images, as part of Text Festival. So, if you are wondering about what to do this coming weekend, take a tram to Bury and see the art gallery for yourself. You will love it.

Great stadium and tour. Really like our experience with everyone from the merch shop and the tour.read more

Had a great time visiting the stadium and the tour was an incedible experience. The tour guides…read morewere very friendly and knowledgeable. Especially, David Hey helped with photos and made us genuinely feel at home like we are local fans. We came all the way over from New Orleans just to see a game and will never forgot this experience. Small group and the tour is a true VIP experience.

Very pleasant way to pass a couple of hours at this interesting museum. They have a good sized…read morecollection of exhibits from all decades of the twentieth century. It was cool to see Leyland Atlanteans & Olympians like the ones I caught as a kid including the old ticket machines and even the clipper card machine. You are free to climb aboard some of the exhibits and have a sit down or just look around. On certain summer weekends they run free rides to either Victoria Station or MOSI on one of the actual vintage buses - check the website for details. The museum houses a small cafeteria which does basic food: pies, tea & coffee, cakes, crisps. Free refills are available on hot drinks. Well worth the £4 entry charge, especially considering they have a few ongoing restoration projects.

If you're a bit of a transport geek and love anything to do with British History, then you'd…read moreprobably quite like the collection of vehicles housed at this museum's Boyle Street building. Okay, it's not quite as vast as its southern counterpart and there are no vintage tube carriages on display but there is a stunning Victorian horse-drawn bus, classic 40s and 50s coaches, 60s stagecoach double deckers with their original livery and a prototype Metrolink tram. The bus garage also features the original transport offices with their original decor and furniture, old ticket machines, uniforms and photographs. For £4 entry, it's a fun and not too expensive way to travel back in time (and for the kids it's free).

This is one the greatest places you could venture to on a cold rain soaked day as it has real life…read moreworkable roof where any rain fall will simply bounce off and the visitor inside will never be none the wiser. Also great for students and primary schoolers who can't be bothered to go to their school and/or college and need somewhere to hide out from tutors/the fuzz. There are museum and art things in there too I've been told, so that's a bonus right there for the bored masses of society.

We visit this place fairly regularly. It's a traditional (ie not very interactive) museum but they…read moreoften have Special Events which (in our experience) have been great. A recent Dinosaur week allowed you to dig for fossils, handle dinosaur bones etc and was well-received by our two (aged 3 and 5). The aquarium in the basement is rather small, seems to be a bit dingy and, one feels, they could make a lot more of it -- but all in all, it's not a bad place to kill an hour or two if you're in the middle of town.